UPDATE: Former Stevens County Officers Arrested

UPDATE:

At a news conference Tuesday, Harvey County Attorney David Yoder said the arrest of the Halstead city administrator and former police chief were due to “abnormalities.”

Those abnormalities, from multiple sources, were brought to his attention against former police chief Steven Lewis and current Halstead City Administrator J.R. Hatfield. Both are former law enforcement officers in Stevens County as well.

After Yoder was alerted, he said he contacted the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, which ultimately led to Monday’s charges against the two men.

The charges against Lewis include misuse of public funds in May and October of 2011, theft of ammunition around June 11, 2012, and theft of ammunition around April 30, 2013. Lewis’ bond was set for $3,000.

Hatfield was charged with one count of felony perjury. On Monday, he was transported to the Harvey County Detention Center, where his bond was set at $2,500.Both men have bonded out of jail.

Yoder said the current police administration and officers are cooperating in the investigation.

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The Harvey County Sheriff’s Office says the former Halstead Chief of Police has been arrested.

Steven C. Lewis is charged with one count of felony misuse of public funds and two counts of misdemeanor theft. Lewis was arrested in Stevens County. His bond was set at $3,000.00. Lewis is also the former Chief of Police in Hugoton.

Halstead City Administrator James R. Hatfield was arrested around 10 a.m. for perjury. He’s since posted a $2,500 bond. Hatfield also worked in law enforcement in Stevens County.

Both warrants are the result of an investigation conducted by the Harvey County Attorney and the Kansas Bureau of Investigations.